UK in the NBA: Kidd-Gilchrist suffers concussion

Charlotte Bobcats' Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) screams after losing control of a loose ball as Indiana Pacers' Paul George (24) defends in the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena on Wednesday, January 15, 2013, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/MCT)

Week 14 in the NBA for former Cats was headlined by the injury suffered by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist of the Charlotte Bobcats. In the second half of the Saturday night game in Houston, Kidd-Gilchrist was fitted into a neck brace to keep him immobilized and was carted off the floor on a stretcher.

“It all happened so fast, I couldn’t tell what happened,” teammate Jeffery Taylor told the Charlotte Observer after the game.
Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a concussion after a head-on collision with the former Vanderbilt star’s right knee. The collision was a result of the 6-foot-7 small forward’s awkward landing after attempting to block Houston’s Tony Douglas.

Kidd-Gilchrist was hospitalized overnight on Saturday with the concussion, and the X-rays and CT scan came back negative, according to the Bobcats. The rookie, who has started 44 games this season, will likely miss the next few games as he must pass the protocol set by the NBA before returning to action.

But Kidd-Gilchrist, who is known for his emotional play and toughness, sent some positive remarks via his official twitter account on Sunday.

“God is Good! Appreciate everyone’s concern.. Will be back before you know it..”

While Kidd-Gilchrist was the story of the 109-95 loss at the Toyota Center, it was another former Cat who helped his team to victory.

Rockets’ power forward, Patrick Patterson scored 24 points in the game while shooting 10-of-12 from the floor, including 14 points in the fourth quarter alone, allowing the Rockets to pull away from the depleted Bobcats.

“He just caught fire,” Houston point guard Jeremy Lin told the Associated Press, referring to Patterson’s performance in the final quarter. “We just rode him all the way to victory.”

Terrence Jones, who has played just 11 games this season with the Houston Rockets, has been selected to participate in the seventh annual NBA Developmental League all-star game on Saturday, Feb. 16. The game will air live on NBA TV at 3 p.m.

Another local name that will be involved in the game hosted at Sprint Arena in Houston is former Butler star, Shelvin Mack. Mack is a Lexington native who played his high school basketball at Bryan Station, where he led the Defenders to a 30-3 season in 2008.

Tayshaun Prince, who was recently traded from the Detroit Pistons to his new home in Memphis, earned a standing ovation as he entered the game off the bench for the first time as a Grizzly.

That was not the only time the former UK star earned praises from his new fan base. The 10-year NBA veteran helped the Grizzlies down the stretch to defeat the Wizards, 85-76. Prince finished with 14 points, including two jumpers in the closing minutes, and three assists in 32 minutes.

“Getting the W was the main thing,” Prince told the Associated Press. “Once we got in a good rhythm, we were able to pull through late in the game.”